Connector for electrically-heated instruments.



F. KUHN & F. E. SHAILOR. CONNECTOR FOR ELEC TRICALLY HEATED IhSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1914.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

W12 .1 I B Wm M A. 1

J UNITED STATES- PATENT oFFIoE.

' FRANK KUHN AND FRANK E. SI-IAILOR, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN ELECTRICAL HEATER COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COR- PORATION OF MICHIGAN. 4

CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICALLY-HEATED INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that we, F RANK KUHN and FRANK E. SHAILoR, citizens of the United States'of America, residing at Detroit, in

heretofore employed, and particularly to provide a moredurable attachment between the connector and" the instrument.

In the present state of the art it is usual to provide the instrument with terminal contact members which frictionally engage cooperating contacts in a connector plug. As the contacts are connected in close proximity to the instrument they will become heated and as a-rcsult oxidized or corroded so as to impair the electrical connection. This in turn results in arcing and a still further burning of the contacts, with a final result that the connection is destroyed. Prior to the use of detachable connectors with electrically heated instruments such instruments were provided with permanently attached connectors, but-these, while avoiding some of the contact difficulties had the objection' of requiring expert services whenever renewal of the conductor cord was nec- 'essary.

- With the present invention we have provided a construction which permits of readily attaching'or detaching the conductor from the instrument, and which atthe same time elfectually guards against arcing or other contact difiiculties. r

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section I 'through' a 'portionof an electrically-heated 1IO1 1,'Sh0WlI1g'the connection thereto; Fig.

2is a perspective view of the housing; Figs.

I .3 and 4 are perspective views of the complementary portions of the insulator; and Fig.

- 5 is a perspective view of the casing.

- A is an electrically heated instrument,

.- such for instance as a laundry iron; B is the heating unit, within the casing C of the:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 9, 1914. Serial No. 849,937.

iron; and D are terminals of the heating unit which pass outward through an aperture in the casing C. These terminals D are preferably provided with clamping means, such as E, for the attachment of the flexible conductor F, and as the connection remains permanent arcing is avoided. It is, however necessary to protect the terminals both mechanically and from short circuiting electrically, and for this purpose we have provided an insulator covering and a metallic casing for inclosing said insulator covering. As shown in Fig. 1, the insulating covering comprises a pair of complementary molded blocks G and H, which are fashioned to embracethe terminals D and the adjacent portion of the flexible conductor F. The block G is preferably formed with recesses I and I for receiving the terminals D and connecting channels J and J for the passage-of the two strands of the flexible connector. There is also a cross channel K for receiving a rib or bead L upon the member H and constituting a clamp for the flexible conductor, which relieves the terminal connection from mechanical stress. The two members G and H when placed together in engagement with the terminals D are secured by a metallic housing M pref- This housing is also preferably secured to the handle N of the iron which is mechanically secured to the casing C and therefore securely holds the members" M, G and H from displacement. The member M is preferably further provided with the nipple O for securing a resilient helix P. the latter forming a guard and protector for the flexible conductor as it' passes from the casing.

The parts beingconstructed as described, they may be readily assembled, and at. any time quickly detached, while in assembled position the terminals-are thoroughly insulated and are maintained in full connection with the'conducton- If at any time it is necessaryto renew the connectoncord the handle and housing M may be wlthdrawn, which permits the blocks G and H to be (115- engaged, exposing the terminals D and the clamps 1*] thereof by which the conductor is attached. This will permit the operator clamping engagement with said terminal, a

sectional insulator for embracing said terminal and adjacent portion of said flexible conductor, a handle detachably engaging said casing, and a housing for said sectional insulator secured to said handle.

2. In an electrically heated instrument,

. the combination with a heating unit having 'a- "rminal projecting therefrom, of a casing osing said unit and apertured for the passage of saidterminal, a'flexible conductor'havinga clamping engagement with said terminal, a sectional insulator for embracing said terminal and clamping said flexible conductor, and a housing for telescopically engaging said sectional insulator to inclose the'same and to maintain a clamping engagement thereto.

3. In an electricaiiy heated instrument,

the combination with a heating unit having a terminal projecting therefrom, of a casing 'for inclosing said unit apertured for the passage of said terminal, a flexible conductor having a clamping engagement with said terminal, insulator blocks for embracing said terminal and clamping the adjacentportion of said flexible conductor, a handle detachably engaging said casing, and a houssaid unitapertured for the passage of ing mounted on said handle andtelescopicall) engageable with said insulator blocks to inclose and protect the same.

4. In an electrically heated instrument, the combination with a heating unit having a projecting terminal, of a casing apertured for the passage of said terminal, a flexible conductor having a clamping engagement with said terminal, insulator blocks for embracing said terminal and clamping said conductor, a handle detachablv engaging said casing, a housing for said insulator blocks telescopically engageable therewith, and 'a flexible resilient guard for said flexible conductor secured to and projectingtures, in presence of two witnesses.

KYH X. E. SHAILOR.

FRAXK FRANK 'itnesses STANLEY B. OAKES, HAR Y \Y. LCYL'KX. 

